The first thing to do, when you start to recognize that you have hearing loss, is to eliminate further damage. After all, you can take some simple measures to prevent additional damage and protect your ears.
Step 1: Keep Your Ears Clean
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those initial hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? When it comes to hearing health, however, we aren’t concerned with the areas behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax accumulation can help your hearing in a number of distinctive ways:
- When wax buildup becomes severe, it can prevent sound from reaching your inner ear. This reduces your ability to hear.
- Earwax accumulation also interferes with the operation of your hearing aid if you use one. You may end up feeling like your hearing is going downhill because of this.
- Your ability to hear can also be interfered with if you get a severe ear infection which can also be caused by unclean ears. Your hearing will go back to normal after the ear infection clears.
- Your brain and ability to interpret sound will inevitably be affected by untreated hearing loss.
You never resort to using a cotton swab to try and dig out excess earwax. In most cases, a cotton swab will worsen the situation or cause additional damage. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so intuitive. But determining how loud is too loud is the real problem for most people. Over a long period of time, for instance, your hearing can be damaged by driving on a busy highway. The motor on your lawnmower can be fairly taxing on your ears, too. As you can tell, it isn’t just blasting speakers or loud rock concerts that damage your ears.
Here are some ways to avoid damaging noise:
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos keep your headphone volume at a manageable level. Most phones have built-in warnings when you’re approaching a dangerous level.
- Wearing ear protection when noisy environments are unavoidable. Does your job put you on the floor of a loud manufacturing plant? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s fun. Just wear the necessary hearing protection. Modern earplugs and earmuffs offer ample protection.
- Making use of an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels reach dangerous levels.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will build up slowly. So if you’ve been to a noisy event, you may have done damage even if you don’t notice it. Only a hearing professional can give your hearing a clean bill of health.
Step #3: Treat Any Hearing Impairment You Might Have
Generally speaking, hearing impairment is cumulative. So catching any damage early on will go a long way to preventing additional injury. So in terms of stopping hearing loss, treatment is so significant. Practical treatments (that you follow through with) will keep your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s what you can expect:
- The chance of developing hearing loss related health problems is diminished by wearing hearing aids because they prevent social solitude and brain strain.
- We can provide personalized guidelines and advice to help you prevent further damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. For instance, hearing aids will stop you from cranking your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also stop further degeneration of your hearing.
You Will be Benefited in The Future by Limiting Hearing Loss
Even though it’s true that there’s no cure for hearing loss, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help stop further damage. In many instances, hearing aids are one of the primary ways to accomplish that. Getting the correct treatment will not only prevent additional damage but also keep your present hearing level intact.
When you wear hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the proper steps to minimize hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing in the future.
